Overview & Reviews

It has the maneuverability of a wagon, the versatility of a minivan and the all-weather capability of an SUV. In a world in which the crossover moniker is perhaps used a bit too generously, the Ford Freestyle is the real deal: a crossover that gives you all the flexibility you'd expect from a vehicle in this category.

This Ford's resourcefulness comes via a spacious cabin that offers lots of cargo room and seating for up to seven passengers. Buyers are also rewarded with an even ride and capable handling, as well as a decent list of safety features. But the picture isn't flawless. Get the Freestyle on the highway and you'll find its engine lacking in oomph and refinement relative to the competition. Also, some of the materials used in its cabin fail to make the grade, and stability control isn't offered.

Were it not for these reasons, the Ford Freestyle would be one of our top recommendations to parents who don't want to drive a minivan. In fact, there's an updated model -- renamed the Ford Taurus X -- that addresses many of the Freestyle's faults. But in regards to the Freestyle, this large wagon is merely one candidate to consider among the many six-, seven- and eight-seat vehicles.

Most Recent Ford Freestyle

The Ford Freestyle was produced for the 2005-'07 model years. It was a crossover with traces of SUV, wagon and minivan in its gene pool. The wagon gene is most dominant, though, as is evidenced by the vehicle's low-slung profile. Mechanically, it was based on the same platform used for a variety of Volvo products of the same time period, including the S60 sedan and XC90 SUV. With three rows of seating, it was capable of seating six or seven passengers, depending on how you equipped it.

Beneath the Freestyle's hood was a 3.0-liter V6 good for 203 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. All models came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Buyers could opt for a front-wheel-drive Freestyle for the best fuel economy, but those living in rough weather will be glad to learn that an all-wheel-drive version of the wagon was also available.

Initially, there were three trim levels available: SE, SEL and Limited. The SE came decently equipped and had air-conditioning, a CD player, second-row captain's chairs (resulting in a total passenger capacity of six), a power driver seat and full power accessories as standard. The midgrade SEL added an in-dash CD changer, automatic headlights, heated side mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a trip computer. For the Limited, look for its 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery in the first and second rows, dual-zone automatic climate control, upgraded sound system, power passenger seat and driver-side memory, front-seat heaters and 50/50-split capability for the third-row bench.

Antilock brakes were standard, and side-impact airbags (for the front) and head curtain airbags (for all three rows) were optional. Also optional were power-adjustable pedals, a second-row bench (increasing seating capacity to seven), rear parking sensors and, for 2006 and '07 models, a navigation system. For the Freestyle's final model year, Ford realigned the trim levels and discontinued the SE.

Functionality was the guiding principle behind the Ford Freestyle's cabin. There was abundant storage throughout and enough room in both the second and third rows to seat both adults and children in comfort. Nor was it lacking in terms of cargo space thanks to its boxy shape, low floor and the fold-flat capability of both the second- and third-row seats. In back, there was useful cargo area of nearly 16 cubic feet even when all three rows of seating were occupied. With the third row folded flat, capacity swelled to 48 cubic feet. Dropping both rear rows opened up a cavernous 85 cubic feet.

Materials quality was hit-or-miss in the Ford Freestyle, however. The Limited's leather upholstery looked and felt good to the touch, but the cloth upholstery in SEL models was unimpressive, as were some of the interior plastics.

In editorial reviews at the time, our editors praised the Ford Freestyle for its ride quality. The wagon easily smoothed over rough pavement while also providing respectable handling when driven around corners. However, this Ford took considerable criticism when it came to acceleration. When executing high-speed passing moves on the freeway, the 3.0-liter V6's lack of horsepower and noisy operation were immediately apparent. That comment was also a theme in consumer reviews. Owners praise the Freestyle for its fold-flat seats and mid-20s fuel economy, but often take issue with its noisy acceleration.

User Reviews:

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  Something you can fit in - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Mike & Lora Perkins - January 30 - 8:44 pm

  My wife and I just purchased our new Freestyle limited addition back in Dec 06 and I have to say we love it. I wanted an SUV that I could fit in and at 6.4 and 270lbs thats not easy to find sometimes but this vehicle was everything we wanted and more, its comfortable to ride in, easy to drive and it was loaded. Our son loves the rear DVD player and most of all I had plenty of room! There was no more of this getting out of my vehicle and my knee was on the ground or up on the dash as I was driving. The Freestyle was just the right fit for our family and our budget, I dont think I could have purchased something else this nice and loaded for what we paid for it, Im very happy with it.

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  Ford Freestyle - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By jcs - January 29 - 1:22 pm

  Very happy with this car. I have two kids, a Great Dane, and we often take other kids with us so the Freestyle is just perfect. I find the engine & transmission to be just great, and we take this thing up to the mountains to ski, so I think the critics are wrong, the powertrain is a strength, not a weakness.

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  Very nice - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By Gene Weresow - January 27 - 12:22 pm

  Had a Windstar van, wife wanted something more manageable, yet with room enough for the grandkids. This was the ideal choice. Love the heated seats , backup sensors and heated rearview mirrors. Interior roomy, and fun to drive. Overall a great auto. It has ample pick up despite the bad ratings it got. I like the cvt trans.Only have 2000 miles on it, getting about 18.5 MPG city. Dont know highway miles yet. Good stable ride and I feel safe with the full array of side airbags.

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  A really nice vehicle - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By carnut - January 27 - 8:17 am

  I bought the Freestyle after owning several Mercedes, Infiniti and other expensive cars that always were broken and expensive to fix. This Freestyle is wonderful. It is a very user friendly and comfortable design. Everything works and it is comfortable on long trips. I love the silky smooth CV transmission. The car is a nice size. It gets exceptional gas mileage (28 on trips and 21.5 in town) on regular gas. I am very impressed with the quality of this vehicle and like its excellent safety ratings. Ford is building a great car and the 5 year 60,000 warranty is also nice to have. An excellent vehicle and a pleasant surprise.

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  too many bugs - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Heather - January 25 - 11:43 pm

  Overall, I love the versatility of the Freestyle. Although, for a $50K vehicle, I am not pleased with having to take it in for service once a month on average. Trouble with leaking lift gate and sun roof. Trouble with door latches last winter (doors will not close) and again this winter because dealership didnt feel need to replace ALL latches under recall. Trouble with brake cables rubbing and heating up (finally fixed) and groaning in front end on tight turns (apparently fixed). Still determining if my real problem is the car or the service at dealership (could we fix it right the FIRST time?).

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  So far so good - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By AWJ - January 24 - 1:20 pm

  Bought this car used,18 months/30,000 miles 49,000km), so some factory warranty remains. It is fully loaded with all the features on a Limited AWD model. The vehicle has 6 separate bucket seats. Lots of room. Good head clearance. Easy entry front and back. Very comfortable ride. Lots of room in the 3rd pair of seats, which fold down easily when not in use. For cargo, all the seats (except driver) fold down. Holds the road very well, no "Van-sway". Seamless acceleration with the CVT, but a different sound than the usual. Interior is very nicely laid out. Above average sound system. For families who want a Big Wagon that easily seats 6 instead of an SUV, this car is great. Nice winter drive too.

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  Finally used in Ice and Snow - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Art - January 17 - 4:48 pm

  My wife has medical problems that made entering and exiting her Taurus a problem. Explorer sat too tall. Pilot was too bulky. Pilot was too expensive. Pacifica was ok, but no deals. We liked the Freestyle with the first test drive. The local dealer ran an ad showing 8 Freestyle Limiteds for the same very good price. We also got 0 percent financing. The fold down seats have been great allowing us to carry 25 to 30 entries to flower shows all over Washington. Mileage has been as high as 26. Lowest maybe 16. Adjustable seats with 2 presets work great for wife. Major snow and ice this week and the Freestyle with Pirellis performed flawlessly. We are very happy with the CVT and the car.

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  Lots to like about this crossover - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By maria - January 13 - 10:57 am

  Weve hauled just about everything in our Freestyle and never had any issues with power. Perhaps thats due to our driving styles, but generally weve found it to be more than adequate during highway merges, even with 7 adults in the car and all their stuff. Then again, were not expecting to run the a/c full-tilt, have the car packed full, and have top speed immediately available.

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  Freestyle review - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Roger - January 9 - 10:14 pm

  This is the best highway driving vehicle I have ever owned. I also am averaging 26 mpg on the highway. The AWD really makes winter driving safe and also during rainy conditions. I have not had one problem with this vehicle, I am very pleased with it.

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  My 2006 Freestyle - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By donsducks - January 8 - 12:04 pm

  Bought a used 2006 Freestyle with 11k miles. It was a former lease and we had been looking for a wagon instead of mini van or SUV. My wife loves the Freestyle, so we focused on purchasing one. Have had it for 1 week now and it rides wonderfully, it has a great transmission, but the one thing I noticed, and this seems true for all Fords, is that the disc brakes stink. They do not hold up well when we looked at used Freestyles, every one of them needed brake jobs by 10k miles. Mine was done at 11k before I bought the car. Ford needs to do something about the brakes. I purchased brake dust shields as the pads shed dust terribly, you can get a set for about $75.